Cabinet and index-file



. (No Model.) 7 v I Q I I 2 sheets -sheet 1.

- I. E. EDGAR. GABINET AND INDBX'FILE. No. 529,251. I j Patented Nov. 13, 1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. E. EDGAR.

CABINET AND INDEX FILE.

No. 529,251. Patented Nov.13,1894,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAIAII E. EDGAR, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CABINET AND INDEX-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,251, dated November 13, 1 894.

Application filed July 25, 1 B 94:.

To all whom it may concern:

0 Be it known that I, ISAIAH E. EDGAR, of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefuldmprovement in Cabinet and Index-Files, which 1s fully set forth in the following specification.

My cabinet and index file is adapted for the preservation of correspondence, reports, memoranda and miscellaneous papers in systematic and compact shape, and is so arranged and combined, that matter pertaining to any name, or subject matter may be grouped by itself, readily found at a glance, removed and replaced without handling, or disturbing other papers, and without the necessity of any mechanical device, to retain, or replace the different sets of papers in the desired pos1t1on.

My cabinet and index file is especially adapted for use in banks, commercial houses and elsewhere, where there is a variety of letters, reports, credit memoranda, orders and other papers, connected with some particular person, or subject matter, which are apt to be of a variety of different sizes and shapes, and which it is desiredto file away and dispose of, in such manner, that they can be quickly and easily found and referred to, if occasion requires. The arrangement is such also, that dead matter,that is, matter that is no longer likely to be referred to, may be removed without disarranging the system of indexing.

My cabinet may consist of one drawer, or of any number of drawers. Thedrawers are formed with shoulders, or projecting ridges parallel to one another, runningvlengthwise along the sides, or along partitions, which divide the drawer into different sections, at a convenient distance below the top of the drawers. In each drawer is placed a series of movable pockets or folders of a peculiar construction. Each pocket or folder has a projecting strip of wood, stifi pasteboard, or other suitable material, which extends slightly beyond the edges of the folder, and is of such length, that it is adapted to rest on the shoulders, or ridges, which run along the sides of the drawer. The width of the folder is slightly less than the length of the strip at the top of the same. The folders preferably are of such $erial No. 518,531. (No model.)

size, that they can readily be inserted into the drawer, and at the same time occupy substantially the whole width and depth thereof. Each folder or pocket is composed of two leaves. The leaf upon the top of which the strip runs, is wider perpendicularly than the other leaf, which-is adapted to fold on the former, under its projecting strip. The letters and papers pertaining to any given person or subject matter, which are to be disposed of, are placed within the two leaves of the pocket. The strip at the top of each leaf is beveled, and upon this bevel is placed the appropriate name or designation for the pocket. These pockets are placed substantially upright in a series, in a drawer or section of a drawer, which may be slightly wider than the length of the pocket, and slightly deeper than the width of the pocket. The pockets may be supported by the ends of the proj ecting strips, which rest upon the shoulders or projecting ridges upon the sides of the drawer. The bevels at the top of the pockets in the series in the same direction, and toward the front -of the drawer, so that the names or designations thereon will attract the eye, when the drawer is open, and will be arranged one in front of another, substantially in a line. The pockets may be so shallow, that they will clear the bottom of the drawer. Then every pocketwill hang substantially upright and retain this position, and tend to return to this position, independently of every other pocket. The pockets may also be of such a width, that, when empty and upright, they will rest on the bottom of the drawer, and the projecting strips will be slightly above the shoulders or ridges, but when tilted to a slight degree the projecting strips will support the pockets in very nearly an upright position. When the pockets are filled and distended, their width is decreased and then they will either be supported by the. projecting strips bottom of the drawer, 'or the projecting strips will support them, when very slightly tilted, depending upon the extent to which the width of the pocket has been affected by the filling. The tops of all the pockets may thus be kept on substantially a uniform level; but whether the pockets rest upon or clear the in a normally upright position, clear of the should preferablybe all uniformly inclined bottom of the drawer, the projecting strips serve to retain the pockets in their proper position and prevent them from slipping, when opened for the purpose of putting in or taking out papers, and greatly facilitate the handling of the pockets and of the papers therein, and convenience of access thereto. If desired, a loose block of wood or the like may also be used to press the pockets close together, and also to assist in supporting the pockets, when tilted.

By placing every paper connected with any given person, or subject matter in the proper folder, labeled on its beveled top with the name of such person, or subject matter, and then placing the folder in its proper alphabetical position in the drawer, the mere act of so doing appropriately and accurately indexes the papers contained in the folder in such manner, as readily to attract the eye. Provided the name or designation on the beveled strip has been accurately placed thereon,

the index becomes automatically complete by the insertion of the folder in its proper place, and by the withdrawal thereof, when the matter therein contained becomes dead.

In the accompanying drawings which will serve to illustrate myinvention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the pockets or folders. Fig. 2is a perspective View of a portion of a drawer showing a number of pockets or holders in position therein. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through a drawer having pockets arranged therein, and Fig. t is a smilar View of an arrangement in which the pockets rest upon the bottom of the drawer.

Referring to the drawings A represents a drawer constituting a receptacle for the folders or pockets, provided with shoulders or projecting ridges a, a at the sides thereof. Each pocket or folder consists of two leaves, I), b the latter being of less width perpendicularly than the former and adapted to fold thereupon. Along the upper edge of the leaf 6 is secured a strip oof wood, stiff pasteboard or other suitable material, the ends of which project beyond the leaf. Then the pockets or folders are placed in position in the drawer the projecting ends of the strip 0 rest upon the shoulders or ridges a, a thereby supporting the pockets in an upright position. The upper edge of the strip 0 is beveled or inclined toward the front of the drawer, so that the name of a firm or person inscribed thereon is visible upon opening the same.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the pockets as being supported entirely by the shoulders or ridges a, a, clear of the bottom of the drawer. This however is a matter of preference, as the pockets maybe of such width perpendicularly as to rest upon the bottom of the drawer, as shown in Fig. 4, the shoulders or ridges in such case serving mainly to hold the pockets in an upright position.

When the drawer is not completely filled with the pockets or folders, as in Fig. 4, any

suitable weight or block (1 may be placed on the bottom of the drawer in front of the same to hold them closely together.

I am aware of Letters Patent No. 486,434, granted to A. L. Colton, November 22, 1892, for improvement in check file. This patent shows projecting ends upon division cards designed to be placed between the checks of different customers, adapted to rest upon strips along the inside of a drawer on both sides thereof, when the division sheets are inclined at an angle, but cannot so rest, when the sheets are upright in their proper position. This is not myinvention. The division sheets are not adapted to contain papers or checks, and do not resemble my folders, or pockets. The division sheets and the checks must always rest on the bottom of the drawer. Among the devices shown in said patent is a supporting board or follower, which is necessary to the effective working of the check file. The mechanism of this is apt to get out of order, and is often difiicult to work. In my cabinet and index file a follower or supporting board is not necessary, and often is not desirable.

My folder may, under conditions heretofore stated, normally hang in a perpendicular position, supported on the shoulders, or ridges, running along the sides of the drawer. It can always be moved along the drawer from one end to the other, and will always rest at any point in its proper position. Each folder will remain in its proper position, whether pressed close together in the drawer, or spread out and separated from the others. The different sets of papers have little or no tendency to fall upon one another. Such tendency causes difficulty and delay in selecting the required bundle, as well as injury to the papers.

The cabinet and index file, that I have shown, considered as a whole, is compact, and the dilferent pockets therein can be quickly and easily arranged, and the arrangement thereof readily changed as may be desired. It is inexpensive, simple and convenient in practical use. No separate index is required. If a folder is put in its proper position it can be found at a glance. If it should chance to be put in a wrong place, such error is apt to be noticed, and can be rectified Without trouble.

Preferably the drawer should be flat, rectangular, of uniform depth, and always resting in a horizontal position. There is no mechanism that is troublesome, or difficult to operate, or liable to get out of order, either in connection with the cabinet or drawer, or in the folder itself, or in any device, having the functions of a follower or supporting board.

Many modifications of the devices, that I have shown, will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, without departing from my invention. Thus the projecting strips on the pockets may rest on top of the partitions, or on top of the sides of the drawer,

IIO

instead of on shoulders or projecting ridges. Wires or railings maybe used in place of such shoulders or ridges. The drawer may also be' grooved in such manner as to form ledges for supporting the pockets. In place of a drawer, a case or box may be used.

WhileI prefer that the leaves of the pocket should be of unequal depth, as they rest normally in the drawer, as heretofore described, this arrangement is not necessary. Such construction tends, however, to economize space.

The projecting strip should preferably be so arranged on the inner face of the larger leaf of the pocket, that the shorter leaf may fold in under it, thereby economizing space.

The idea of arranging a series of folders in a normally upright position in a flat drawer or case, and supporting them from the top or upper part of the same, by projecting strips so that they clear the bottom of the drawer, I believe to be broadly new. While this feature is of advantage in disposing of miscellaneous papers, as heretofore described, the same principle can be utilized in the disposition of checks, or of other papers, without the use of a pocket. Thus, in the disposition of checks, division cards, shallow enough to clear the bottom of the drawer or case, may be supported by projecting strips, similar to those of my pockets, while the checks rest upon the bottom of the drawer. Division cards thus supported would have a strong tendency to retain the checks'in an upright position. The follower or supporting board might perhaps be dispensed with altogether, and if used at all, its use would be much less frequent and essential.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a drawer, case or box, upon which the projecting strips of a series of pockets are adapted to rest, and along which said strips are adapted to be 2. The combination of a drawer, case, or

box, upon which the projecting strips of a series of pockets are adapted to rest, and a series of pockets, each having two leaves, adapted to be folded together, the said projecting strips being upon one of said leaves, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a drawer, case, or box, upon which the projecting strips of a series of pockets are adapted to rest, and a series of pockets, each pocket being composed of two leaves of unequal width, adapted to be folded together, and having a pro ecting strip upon the wider of the two leaves, substantially as described.

4:. A pocket adapted for use in a drawer, case, or box, having two leaves adapted to be folded together, one of said leaves being provided with a projecting strip, upon which the pocket may be supported, substantially as described.

5. A pocket adapted for use in a drawer, case, or box having two leaves of unequal width, adapted to be folded together, the wider of said leaves being provided with a projecting strip, upon which the pocket may be supported, and the narrower of said leaves "being adapted to fold in under said strip, sub

stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAIAH E. EDGAR.

Witnesses:

ROBERT A. PIPER, CHARLES H. SCHAEFER. 

